Business of the Week: Perry's Art Supplies & Framing

128 Greenfield Ave., San Anselmo

(415) 454-3317

What do they offer?

The shelves at Perry’s overflow with every item imaginable needed by both the professional and amateur artist, starting at preschool age.

Supplies include oil paint, water colors, acrylics, canvases, drawing boards, mat boards, illustrator boards, air brush supplies and parts, silk screening supplies, brushes, pens, markers, sketch pads, tracing paper and so much more including, wide format paper and materials for engineers and architects, as well craft items for children.     

In the back of the store is a frame shop where experts work with customers to select mat, frame and type of glass to perfectly enhance the art. 

Among “how to” book topics are: anatomy, crafts, drawing, color composition, pastels, oil, water color, pastels, sculpture, cartooning, and perspective.  

Who are they?

Born Pierino Paradiso, in Richmond, Indiana, to parents who immigrated from Benvento, Italy, Perry won an award in tenth grade for a cedar chest he made. He still has it, gracing a hallway between the living and dining rooms in his San Anselmo home. (See photo in gallery.)

“I always liked to work with my hands and started out building things. I got excited bringing an idea to fruition,” said Paradiso. “The design was modern. I remember being appalled that the wood cost me $15,” he laughed. “It was very rough and had to be planed down to a consistent thickness. The next thing I made was a chair, which I also have at home.” 

Because his father was remodeling and building houses, Paradiso learned from skilled tradesmen. He wound up president of his senior class in high school and got a merit scholarship to Earlham College.

He joined the Air Force ROTC and, when Uncle Sam called, he went through flight school to become an officer. But his group never saw action because the Korean War was over just as their training concluded.     

Out of the service, Paradiso continued building and remodeling. The Air Force had taken him all over America and he was charmed by Marin County. In 1958, he purchased a home on Ridge Road in Fairfax, which became his own remodel project. It had been a volunteer Fireman’s meeting hall and the funicular was a block away.

During these years, Paradiso also worked with Bechtel Corporation and earned a degree in Business. He got married and raised two children. “Neither is an artist, but they’ve dabbled. Both are creative,” he said.  

How long have they been there?

When he bought a home in the San Anselmo hills, Paradiso continued remodeling. His Fairfax neighbor had been William F. Torrance, who had an art supply store on San Anselmo Avenue. "He needed a partner and I was it. He admired the interior and exterior handiwork I'd done on my house, and he liked my work ethic. He thought it would be a good partnership, so we joined up in May of 1964,” he said.  

“His son-in-law, who was an architect, designed the Greenfield Avenue store. Ten years later, Mr. Torrance retired and I bought the rest of the business. I’ve been here 47-1/2 years now.”

Why are they business of the week?

For any age or project, Perry’s Art Supplies & Framing is one stop shopping, and great for back to school. Art students drive over from San Francisco because Perry’s carries many difficult to find items such as the milk-based paint, Casein. 

Professionals rave about the selection. Mr. Torrance’s first customer was Kentfield resident Stanley Walter Galli, who was a highly regarded illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post and many other publications.

“We keep up with the needs of our clientele,” said Paradiso, who is past president of the Marin Society of Artists. He’s also a business member of the Marin Conservation League and was instrumental in preserving Hawthorne Canyon. “The first meetings were held on my deck," he said. 

“I focus on trying to serve the need rather than merchandising products, which gives me superb customer loyalty," said Paradiso. “We have a large following of Marin artists, such as Gail Morris and James Warren Perry who shop here.”

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., “because,” said Paradiso, “Mr. Torrance felt that everyone always needed that extra fifteen minutes.” There are a total of six knowledgeable employees -- all of whom are artists. One has a master’s degree.    

“People are always happily surprised with what they find here. They come in with problems and we solve them,” said Paradiso. “I want to remain a small and friendly local store, where you can actually ask questions and get good advice.”